Incheon: The SSG Landers secured a thrilling 4-3 walk-off victory against the Samsung Lions at home, leveling their Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason series at one game each. The decisive moment came when Kim Seong-uk hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning off Ariel Jurado in Game 2 of the first-round series, witnessed by a sellout crowd of 22,500. This dramatic finish followed the Landers' loss of a 3-2 lead in the top half of the same inning.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the series will now move to Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu for Game 3, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Monday. The Landers' starting pitcher, Kim Keon-woo, made an impressive postseason debut, striking out seven batters over 3 1/3 innings, including a league-record six consecutive strikeouts at the start of the game. Ko Myeong-jun contributed with a home run for the second consecutive game, setting the tone early for the Landers.
The Landers capitalized on early opportunities, with Ko hitting a solo home run in the second inning off Lions' starter Gerson Garabito, followed by Choi Jeong driving in Cho Hyeong-woo for a 2-0 lead in the third. However, the Lions rallied in the fourth, tying the game at 2-2 with a single from Lewin Diaz that drove in two runs, which also ended Kim Keon-woo's outing.
Reliever Lee Ro-un managed to escape a potential go-ahead situation for the Lions in the fourth, thanks to a crucial defensive play by shortstop Park Seong-han. The Landers regained a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning, courtesy of Guillermo Heredia's RBI single. Veteran pitcher Noh Kyung-eun and reliever Kim Min maintained the lead with scoreless innings before closer Jo Byeong-hyeon faced challenges in the ninth.
Jo, who had been reliable during the regular season, allowed the tying run after walking pinch hitter Kim Ji-chan. Kang Min-ho's single brought the Lions back into the game, setting the stage for Kim Seong-uk's historic walk-off home run.
Landers manager Lee Sung-yong expressed his delight in securing his first postseason victory as manager and delivering a memorable win to the home fans. Despite considering a pinch-hitter for Kim Seong-uk, Lee trusted his coaches' advice to keep Kim in the game, which ultimately proved to be a winning decision.
Lee also provided words of encouragement for closer Jo, emphasizing the importance of learning from such high-pressure situations. Lions manager Park Jin-man acknowledged the effectiveness of the Landers' bullpen and emphasized the need for strategic adjustments before the next game.